Loose leaf binder



April 19, 1938. R. W/THOMAS LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed March 15, 1937 imam,

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Robert W. Thomas, Meadville, Pa.

Application March 15, 1937, Serial No. 131,055

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in loose-leaf binders orbooklets and is particularly well adapted for use in catalogues formerchandise, although not necessarily restricted to this use.

Loose-leaf catalogues are highly desirable because of the ease withwhich new leaves may be added or substituted, but to be practical, the

binders must be very inexpensive due to the large numbers in which thecatalogues are usually distributed. It is also important that thecatalogues have a pleasing appearance so as to appeal to the buyers whorefer to them.

While these considerations are particularly important in connection withcatalogues they obviously also apply to other types of loose-leafbinders, and this invention may be applied to any type of loose-leafbinder desired.

An important object of the invention is to provide a binder of thischaracter which may be made with separate binding and cover sectionsinterlocked to form a secure binding and in which the binding sectionmay be replaced without discarding the cover sections.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a binder of thischaracter in which the binding section and cover sections may be made indifferent colors and of different materials, and in which the cataloguecan be added to from time to time as the occasion arises,

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification andwherein like characters of reference denote like parts throughout,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a binder embodying the presentinvention,

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view thereof,

parts being broken away,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the binder taken alongthe line 3- 3 of Fig. 1,

one cover section being open,

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view of the bindtion,

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view of a' modified form of binder,and,

Figure '7 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the bindingsection thereof.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral l designates theloose leaves of a catalogue or other booklet or binder. The bindingstrip or section II is folded about the edges of the leaves it alongtheir length and extends along the sides of the group of leaves i9,being bent back upon itself to form a pair of deep longitudinallyextending channels l2 at each side of the binding section. The channelsl2 open at the rear of the'binder while the main leal receiving channelopens forwardly thereof.

It will be seen that the binding strip or section it is generallyU-shape in cross-section with its arms or sides formed of doubled wallswhich form the cover receiving channels l2 as well as the main leafreceiving channel. The binding strip may be of any suitable material butin the formation of catalogues, paper or other fibrous stock ispreferred because of its cheapness.

The cover sections l3 may be of any suitable material such as paperstock, and are each bent over upon themselves at one edge to formlocking flaps or strips i l of a Width substantially equal to the depthof the channels i2. Suitably spaced openings l5 are disposed in thestrips I4 and the walls of the channels l2 so that in assembled positionthe openings l5 are in transverse alignment. Suitable openings arepunched through the leaves Ill and are adapted to be aligned with theopenings l5 for the reception of the usual binding posts.

In assembling the catalogue, booklet or the like, the leaves it areinserted in the binding section H, which is formed of a size to fit thegroup of leaves, the strips M are inserted, into the channels l2 andbinding posts passed through the aligned openings E5 to secure the partstogether.

The binding posts may be of any suitable construction and areillustrated as comprising a headed socket or tube it and a headed boltor screw ill. The members It and Il extend through the binding fromopposite sides thereof and screw threadedly interlock to clamp thebinding and cover sections to the leaves it. The binding posts extendthrough the double walls of both channels 52, through the strips Hi andleaves It. When the cover sections are moved to their closed positionthey cover the headed portions of the members l6 and H.

An important feature of this invention is the formation of the binding Hand cover sections IS in separate parts, interlocked to form a firmsecure binding through which the binding posts will not tend to pullout. In addition to the strength of this structure, it enables the useof the same cover sections with other binding sections, as for example,when it is desired to add to or enlarge the catalogue. It also enablesthe use of contrasting or different colors on the binding and cover, andthis will present a very pleasing appearance due to the interlacing ofthe sections. Different stock may be used in these parts, so that thedesired colors may be employed. As an example, a heavy coated stock maybe used for the cover sections so that halftones may be printed thereon.An additional advantage of this construction is the stiffening effectproduced by the folds and extra plies of material at the binding. Withthis construction a thinner stock than usual may be used for the bindingand the desired stiffness obtained through the additional folds of thebinding.

In the modification shown in Figures 6 and '7, the cover sections 43 arethe same as in the other figures, but the binding section i8 is foldedto form a smaller leaf receiving channel l8 at each side of the mainchannel and separated therefrom by means of double-walled strips E9. Thecover i are received in the cover receiving chan nels if! in the samemanner as in the other figures and the leaves ii are inserted in themain or central leaf-receiving channel. The binding posts !5-i'i arepassed through the openings i5 and secure the parts together. When it isdesired to add to the catalogue or booklet, the posts are taken out andnew leaves 55 inserted in the auxiliary leaf retaining channels l8 andthe posts replaced as indicated in Figure 6. In this form of theinvention, it is not necessary to provide a new binding section when itis desired to add to the catalogue or the like. When the auxiliarychannels 53' are not in use, their walls are folded against the walls 59and held in that position by the posts iii-2?, acting as accordionpleats which may be expanded to receive additional leaves.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size,shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

1. In a loose-leaf booklet, a binding section folded to receive theloose-leaves, cover sections, said cover sections and binding sectionhaving interlocking members, and securing means passing through theinterlocking members and the loose leaves.

2. In a loose-leaf booklet, a binding section folded to receive theloose leaves, said binding section being folded upon itself to forminterlocking members extending along the loose leaves, cover sectionsfolded upon themselves to provide flaps adapted to have interlockingengagement with the members on the binding section, and binding postsextending through the interlocking members and flaps and through theloose leaves to secure the parts together.

3. In a loose-leaf booklet, a binding section folded to receive theloose leaves, said binding section being folded upon itself to providechannels disposed at the sides of the loose leaves, cover sectionsfolded upon themselves to provide interlocking flaps adapted to bereceived in the channels, and binding posts extending through the wallsof the channels, and through the interlocking flaps and loose leaves tosecure the parts together.

4. In a loose-leaf booklet, a binding section folded to produce aplurality of leaf receiving channels, said binding section being foldedupon itself to provide rearwardly facing channels disposed at the sidesof the loose leaf channels, cover sections folded upon themselves toprovide interlocking flaps adapted to be received in the rearwardlyfacing channels, and binding posts extending through the flaps and thewalls of the channels and the leaves to removably secure the partstogether.

ROBERT W. THOMAS.

